Punjab Newsline | Sangrur
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led Central Government, saying his government was not afraid of defamation notices and accusing the Centre of adopting “dictatorial tactics” against Punjab.
The Chief Minister also said his government would not withdraw the sacrilege law “at any cost.” He alleged that while people across the world support strict action against sacrilege, only the Badal family opposes the legislation.
Addressing a press conference in Sangrur, the Punjab Chief Minister said the BJP resorts to ED raids, bomb blasts and defamation notices whenever elections approach. He alleged that the party uses central agencies and intimidation tactics to target political opponents.
Mann said, “We do not care about BJP’s defamation notices. The Modi government is doing injustice to Punjab. They should stop these tactics, otherwise Punjabis will give a strong reply.”
The Chief Minister asserted that Punjab’s social harmony and brotherhood were too strong to be divided. He said hatred could never grow on Punjab’s soil despite repeated attempts to create communal tension.
“Punjab is a very fertile land where every kind of seed can grow, but hatred can never be cultivated here,” Mann said, adding that BJP’s alleged attempts to break Punjab’s communal harmony would never succeed.
Targeting the BJP over the political situation in West Bengal, Mann claimed violence had started even before the swearing-in ceremony there. “Bengal has started burning before the oath-taking itself,” he remarked while criticizing the BJP’s political strategy.
The Chief Minister also said his government would not withdraw the sacrilege law “at any cost.” He alleged that while people across the world support strict action against sacrilege, only the Badal family opposes the legislation.
Mann further accused the BJP-led Centre of continuously discriminating against Punjab and warned that the people of the state would strongly respond to any injustice done to them.
